Season Sentiments: Ten Things I Love About Fall

There are so many things I love about the fall season. Spring was always my favorite when I lived in Tennessee, but now that I’m a coastal girl, and the summer was hotter than ten hells this year, I welcomed fall with wide, open, baby-come-to-me arms. Now, don’t get me wrong–when I was a Tennessee girl, I always did love the way the trees changed color and would often take a ride over to Asheville just to see them in all their glory, but fall at the beach is a totally different feeling.

I’ve been rather nostalgic lately, contemplating life, settling into my new home on the marina–and the cooler temperatures reminded me of the things I love about fall.

1. Cooler Weather

This is probably my favorite part. I love the feeling of the almost-chilly, cool, crisp air on a morning like today. My screened-in porch doors are wide open and as I write to you from my captain’s chair on the marina with bulletproof coffee within reach, I find myself becoming a little homesick for the mountains of Northeast Tennessee. The tourists have gone home, the island is not as busy, and the cooler temps nudge me to remind me that it’s time to start nesting and settling into a new season.

2. Hot Apple Cider

Oh, my gracious. There’s nothing like it! Steaming, hot, smooth apple cider in a cup is my biggest vice during the fall season. The k-cups for the Keurig are seasonal, and every year, I say I’m going to stock up so I have extras just in case I want a cup later on. I never stock up. It’s one of those oh-for-love-of-cupcakes, Krissy, you forgot again…what can I say, the move gave me dementia. HA! I’ve heard they make a caramel apple cider now, so I’m on the hunt (carbs?! oh pay no mind to it, it’s fruit, right?!).

3. Fall Flowers

My mother had the greenest thumb of anybody I know. I often took my dead plants to her thinking we should give it last rites, and she always brought them back to life. Her knack for having beautiful flowers and houseplants just didn’t rub off on me. I kill everything but ferns. Seriously. But fall flowers are one of my favorite things about this time of year. Colorful mums in big pots with popping flowers always bring a soft smile to my face. When I lived in a house, I had hay bales, cornstalks, scarecrows, pumpkins, and mums placed just right in the left corner of the yard. I miss those days, the decorating part, not the house part, but living in a condo allows me the opportunity to only come home with a trunk load of flowers instead of a truckload of stuff that took a whole lot of work. For the most part, that’s why I love condo living. No fuss, no muss.

4. Rich, Decadent Soups

Mmmmm Mmmmm Good! The fall season always brings the urge to make those scrumptious soups that I love: my mother’s vegetable soup, chili with a lot of heat, chunky beef stew, loaded potato soup…I could go on and on an on! And don’t forget the cornbread baked in the oven in my Granny’s cast iron skillet! The only way to make it if you ask me!

5. Carving Pumpkins

Yes. You read that right. The little girl in me L-O-V-E-S to do that (cleaning out the goopy stuff? Yeah, not so much. Ewww). One of my fondest memories takes me back to my former house in Tennessee when my friend Kena brought her kids over and my may-as-well-be-mine daughter Devon came over and we carved pumpkins and roasted the pumpkin seeds while we played (we had some Tennessee Vol fans in the house, can you tell?!). Dev was 20 by then, but she had as much fun as we did. And yes, I dress up my dog Snickers every year. I love it…he doesn’t ha!

6. School

Now, most people don’t like the time of year when school starts back, but I happen to love it. I’m a full-time non-traditional student and while I don’t buy myself a new backpack every year like I did when I was 10, I do relish buying new pens, notebooks, and binders. And every couple of years, I do buy myself a new Vera Bradly messenger bag. College grounds me. Truly.

7. Hibernation

Ahhh, the nesting period. Fall gives me that permission to rest. Not that I need permission, but it’s the season where I start to settle in, stay home more, and just hibernate. There’s something very restful about fall, really, when you think about it: flowers and trees start to go dormant because it’s natural for them. And I think, for the most part, it’s very natural for us as human beings as well. So let yourself rest.

8. Football

I don’t love football–but only because I don’t understand it! I want to understand it, but really the only thing I know is that when “TOUCHDOWN!” shows up on the TV screen, something good happened for somebody (giggle!). My friend Mike gave up trying to teach me about the sport long ago, but I do love the energy that surrounds football season. People get excited! And most of my friends are die-hard Tennessee Vol fans, naturally. I love seeing the pictures and videos of their tailgating parties back home. It’s a major big deal. Just ask Angelica!

9. Watching The Leaves Change Color

There’s nothing more beautiful, wouldn’t you agree? The oranges, the yellows, the reds…it’s breathtaking really, especially when you drive into the mountains of North Carolina and see it in all its glory. That. That I miss.

10. Not Having To Rake Those Leaves Anymore

I love the crunching sound of fallen leaves underneath my feet and I really used to love jumping into a pile of leaves as a child, but I so don’t miss raking them up in the yard. Ha! ‘Nuff said. Condo living…ah, yes yes yes.

I’m sure I could come up with a multitude of things I love about the season, but then we’d be here all day. For me, it’s almost like New Year’s Eve: a time to reflect, re-commit to things I’ve let fall by the wayside, and a time of renewal (that rest thing, remember?). And if you care to share the things that you love about fall, please feel free to comment below. I’m off in search of caramel apple k-cups!

I am the voice behind Truly Madly Sassy and currently reside on the coast of North Carolina with my dog Snickers. I’m a full-time social work major, a suicide prevention advocate, a most-of-the-time writer, a part-time mermaid, an iPhone junkie, a bit of a wandering free-spirit, and a self-proclaimed princess. I’m a lover of all things chocolate, a staunch Starbucks addict, a sap for Rumi’s poetry, and a tried-and-true believer in happily ever after.

“Oh goodness, I love to hibernate too! My friends get worried lol! We seem to have two seasons on the coast: hot and pretty warm lol! Thanks for commenting, Crisly. I’m always happy to see you pop up on TMS!”

“Hi Keli! We had some beautiful cooler, fall weather at the beginning of the week but it’s 9am right now and already 80 degrees and humid. I do miss the change of the season for sure even though I love being a Mermaid! Thanks for dropping by!”

“Raking leaves is a great calorie burner no doubt, but this Princess always ended up with blisters lol! Gloves…I always forgot gloves just like I forget apple cider k-cups! Enjoy your family and the time you have in the US. Love you mucho!”

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OH HI THERE!

My name is Kristi McAllister. I’m a full-time student, a most-of- the-time writer, a part-time mermaid, an iPhone junkie, a dog mom, a bit of a wandering free-spirit, and a self-proclaimed princess.
I’m a lover of all things chocolate, a staunch Starbucks addict, a sap for Rumi’s poetry, and a tried-and-true believer in happily ever after.

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